Things to do with kids in Albany this weekend, found and checked for you.
Halloween lands on a Saturday, so the big day is packed. The State Museum’s Spooktacular runs in the morning, Crossgates has Malloween, and the Palace Theatre runs Trick or Treat from 4. Library storytimes fill Friday and Saturday mornings. This week has 18 outings, 16 of them free and 16 indoors.
What’s on today, Friday, Oct 30: Bilingual Storytime (North Albany), Halloween Music and Movement (Guilderland) and Halloween Photo Booth (Delaware Branch), plus 2 more.
Last checked · 18 kids events and outings at 15 places · 16 free · 16 indoor. Every listing links to the page we checked it on. How we choose
Top 5 picks
Get this weekend’s list every Thursday.
One short email with the Albany picks, already found and checked. Free, and you can unsubscribe any time.
Our plan for Saturday
Here’s how we’d do Saturday, Oct 31. Tap a stop for the details.
MORNINGHalloween Spooktacular at the New York State Museum10am–1pm · New York State Museum, 4th Floor Terrace · Free
- NAPHome by 1:30 for nap.
AFTER NAPTrick or Treat at the Palace4–7pm · Palace Theatre · Free
Times come from each event’s page or the place’s own site. Times can change, so check before you head out. Print this plan
Our plan for Sunday
Here’s how we’d do Sunday, Nov 1. Tap a stop for the details.
MORNINGWeekend planetarium shows at miSci11am–5pm · miSci, Museum of Innovation and Science · $10 kids, $15 adults, free for 2 and under
- NAPHome by 1:30 for nap.
AFTER NAPAlbany Institute of History & Artnoon–5pm · Albany Institute of History & Art · Kids under 6 free; adults $12
Times come from each event’s page or the place’s own site. Times can change, so check before you head out. Print this plan
Find your thing
Holiday season in Albany
- Santa visitsBreakfasts, photos and trains
- Christmas lightsDrive-thru and walk-through
- Thanksgiving weekendParades, turkey trots, what’s open
- Parades & tree lightingsDates and start times
- Christmas trainsPolar Express and Santa trains
- The NutcrackerShows for kids, sensory-friendly flagged
- December with kidsThings to do all month
- Ice skatingHoliday rinks and skate aids
Albany favorites
A few of the places we keep going back to. The full list, with prices, hours and kid-friendly restaurants, lives in the guide.
Coming up
What to do with kids this weekend in Albany: the FAQ
What can we do with kids this weekend in Albany?
This weekend (Oct 30–Nov 1) our top picks are Halloween Spooktacular at the New York State Museum (Sat, Oct 31); Malloween at Crossgates (Sat, Oct 31); Trick or Treat at the Palace (Sat, Oct 31); Albany Institute of History & Art (Sat, Oct 31 and Sun, Nov 1). That’s four of 18 outings on this weekend, all checked on the organizer’s page and picked for kids ages 0–6. See the full list.
What are kid-friendly things to do in Albany this weekend?
This week we found 18 outings that work for kids ages 0–6, all of them this weekend (Oct 30–Nov 1). Our top three: Halloween Spooktacular at the New York State Museum, Malloween at Crossgates, Trick or Treat at the Palace. See the full list.
Where are the Halloween events for kids in Albany this week?
7 Halloween outings are on this week’s list for ages 0–6, including Halloween Spooktacular at the New York State Museum, Malloween at Crossgates, Trick or Treat at the Palace and Halloween Photo Booth (Delaware Branch). Each one’s page has the date, time, price and the organizer’s link. See them in the list.
Are there free things to do with little ones in Albany this week?
Yes, 16 of this week’s 18 picks are free, including library storytimes and Halloween Photo Booth (Delaware Branch). Tap “Free” in Find your thing. For free places you can visit any week, see free things to do in Albany in the city guide. Free museum days and free events coming up are on free things to do with kids in Albany.
What are good indoor activities for kids in Albany when it rains?
16 picks this week are indoors, mostly at the libraries. Tap “Rainy-day OK” in Find your thing.
Where is storytime for little kids in Albany this week?
5 storytimes are on this week’s list, including Bilingual Storytime (North Albany) (Fri 10:30–11:30am), Toddler Storytime & Play (Washington Ave.) (Fri 10:30–11:30am), Growing Readers Storytime and Play (Washington Ave.) (Sat 10:30–11:30am) and Saturday Story Time (Bethlehem) (Sat 11–11:30am). Each one links to the library or venue page we checked it on, so check there for registration. See them in the list. For every weekly storytime by day and branch, see library storytimes in Albany.
What’s on for babies and toddlers under 3 in Albany this week?
One of this week’s picks is a baby or toddler program or made for ages 3 and under: Toddler Storytime & Play (Washington Ave.). It’s free and indoors. See it in the list.
How do you pick what goes on the Albany list?
We go through Albany’s library calendars, parks, museums, zoos and local family pages every week, and keep what works for ages 0–6. Each listing links to the page we checked it on, and where the organizer or venue has its own page, we confirm the date, time, place and price there. This list was last checked Oct 30, 2026. How we choose and check listings.
How do I get this list every week?
Sign up for the Thursday email at the bottom of the page. It’s one short email, and you can unsubscribe any time.
Running something for little kids in Albany?
If it’s good for the under-6 crowd, we’d like to hear about it. Free events go on the list for free, always. If you want a guaranteed spot at the top or in the Thursday email, there’s a sponsored option too, and it’s clearly labeled. We’re just getting started, so the first 10 local partners in each city get 50% off your first booking.
Get this weekend’s list every Thursday.
One short email every Thursday evening with the five things we’d leave the house for in Albany.
Seasonal events and guides
- Things to do with kids in Albany in November
- Things to do with kids in Albany in December
- Santa visits in Albany
- Ice skating with kids in Albany
- Thanksgiving weekend in Albany
- Christmas parades and tree lightings in Albany
- Christmas train rides near Albany
- The Nutcracker for kids in Albany
- Free things to do in Albany
- Library storytimes in Albany